3.3. The effect of the tested oils on healing time and
wound area
The size of the burn wound area was used as an index for
wound healing during the seventh day of the experimental
period to assess the wound-healing potential of the three
extracted oils and the reference cream.
The measurements of the burns and the percentage of
burn contraction on days 1, 3, 5, and 7 are illustrated in Table 3
and Figure 3, respectively.
The tested oil groups showed a better performance than
the reference and the control groups in regard to the decrease
of wound area throughout the process of wound healing.
Indeed, as summarized in Table 3, delayed wound healing
processes were observed in the control and the reference
groups as compared with the other groups that showed
comparable burn wound contractions. As far as treated oil
groups are concerned, significant healing effects were
observed starting from day 3 compared with the other groups.
By day 7 of the experiment, the prickly peare, linseede, and
pumpkin oiletreated groups revealed a significant healing
effect (0, 0.15, and 0.18 cm2, respectively) as compared with
the control and reference groups that still showed an open
wound (1.49 and 0.85 cm2, respectively).
At the end of the experiment, the control group wounds
remained open. However, thewounds of five among six treated
rats with pumpkin oil healed completely. Moreover, five of six
rats treated with linseed oil healed. As for rats treated with the
reference drug, only two of six wounds healed.